There's a new monument in Jackson Park.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, along with members of the Emancipation Celebration Monument Committee, city councillors, and special guests, unveiled the Emancipation Celebration Monument on Saturday.
"Windsor is one of Canada's most diverse and inclusive communities, and we are certainly honouring that through this monument and gathering space," said Dilkens. "We have created a fitting and inspiring tribute to a shared history that shaped our city, province, and country."
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was just one part of a full weekend of programming honouring Emancipation Day, marking the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. The legislation came into effect on August 1, 1834, across the British Empire.
Since then, Emancipation Day has celebrated the strength and perseverance of the Black community.
Local celebrations date back to the turn of the 20th Century in Windsor. Often they would start with a parade from Dieppe Gardens to the original bandstand in Jackson Park. As many as 250,000 spectators, many of them American, would line the streets for the parade, making it the largest Emancipation Celebration of its kind in North America.
The new monument includes a large decorative archway stretching 28 feet across and 15 feet in height. It includes three murals painted by local artist Dennis K. Smith, who co-founded The Artists of Colour. The interpretive panels were researched and written by Irene Moore Davis, and share the local history of Emancipation Day and local Black history. Decorative benches, landscaping, lighting, and a shade structure finish out the overall footprint of the monument.
The City of Windsor approved the monument's development in 2012. Unfortunately, fundraising did not reach its goal, and the project stalled.
In 2023, Joi Elaine Hurst began work behind the scenes to revive the project.
"I understand the significance this monument holds for many," said Hurst. "It serves as a powerful reminder of a pivotal moment in history. The monument represents hard-won freedoms and enduring resilience. Its presence encourages reflection on the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us."
The monument site includes space for a future life-sized bronze sculpture of Walter Perry, also known as "Mr Emancipation." He organized Emancipation celebrations for 30 years. It's hoped the sculpture will be erected next year in Jackson Park, so long as fundraising in the community raises the needed funds.
